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Friday, August 6, 2010

In which I go from being charmingly self-deprecating to totally full of myself.

Can I quilt, or can I quilt? Who's with me? C'mon - up top. Who's got a terrorist fist bump for my awesomeness? Hello? Hellooooo? Hey. Where are you all going?

Honestly, though, this quilt is just sailing along, and I was certain I'd be in tears by this point. The funky seams on HSTs always give my machines a fit, and make me wish I had accepted my mom's offer of her old Singer back when I started sewing. But, save for a few hiccups here and there, I've been able to anticipate the problems and take measures to prevent them. If you were to look closely, and I'd probably tackle you and drag you away by your hair before I'd ever let you do that, you'd see some not-too-precise intersections, but a lot of them are dang-near perfect, and that suits me just fine.

The worst part is the ironing (excuse me - pressing). I elected to press all my seams open, and that is just a major undertaking with a quilt this big. And of course, as I'm gently and carefully trying to open the seams and flatten them gently with my huge-ass iron, I end up messing up all the other seams around them. I finally purchased one of those wee little irons that so many people seem to love, thinking that it might solve my iron trespassing issues, but it was about as useful as glaring at the seams to make them flatten out.

Oh, and here's my submission for Parent of the Year. We had a brief power outage when I had stepped away from my machine, and when it came back on, the needle reverted to its default position, which is not remotely near the opening in my quarter-inch foot. So I blithely went back to sew, and the needle came slamming down on the foot, breaking in half, and causing all kinds of alarms and safety shut-off measures. Since I have done this very thing approximately twelve thousand times (we have a lot of power outages here), I took it in stride and didn't say anything after my little "Oh!" of surprise. So, Harper, who is never farther than three feet from me at all times these days, says, "Isn't this the point where you're supposed to say, 'Shit!'?"

Oh, Megan! You always make me laugh!!! And I was so overwhelmed by the beauty of your quilt, I completely missed the part where you went to being totally full of yourself!!! Great work - I think it would make a spectacular wall hanging just like it is!!!

I did look close (so sue me!) Those little imperfections don't matter a whit if you aren't going to enter it in a quilt show. (and I think some of those are full of "Oh"-- yes, Harper I meant that other word)

My first reaction to the picture was "OH WOW this is gorgeous" AND that is what matters.

I love your blog and love the quilt you're making! I'm not creative, but I can follow directions- was the quilt in a book or magazine? How big are the HST's. It looks like it would be nice, mindless sewing to make the HST's. I'm post hyster surgery, and just getting back into sewing, and I'd like to make a similar one. Thanks!Holly

You go girl!! That's one beautiful quilt you got going there. Once I pressed open the seams on a quilt - never again. Unless the seams are at least half an inch, and then I'd think a couple of times before doing it. Keep up the great work.cindy

When Carrie was about 2.5 years old, she was walking under a table that had my Aunt, Uncle, Another Aunt and Uncle, my mom, dad and husband. Carrie hit her head on the table and said, SHIT rather loudly. They all looked at me.

Be as full of yourself as you can for as long as you can because you know your children will find a way to bring you down to earth!

Thanks for the tutorial....though I have to admit any reading that includes math has a tendency to make my head spin. I get the idea though. Might have to get myself one of those rulers. (Just spent almost $100 on rulers yesterday, so it might have to wait...)

Oh! (No, I really mean oh!)....

Pressing the seams open is nice, but not if you are going to quilt by stitching in the ditch...just a general FYI.

It's a rough translation, but my security word is a hoot! Derear (derriere)!